Germany prevails against Italy, playing partly outstanding football. The national coach’s plan has worked – but not yet perfect.
Benjamin Zurmühl reports from Dortmund
In the end it was the first leg in Milan that made Germany a National League semi-finalist. But it was the second leg in Dortmund that electrified the fans. In an impressive way, the DFB selection played Italy on the wall in the first half.
Even though national coach Julian Nagelsmann were missing some important players. Above all, there would be the injured Kai Havertz (Arsenal) and Florian Wirtz (Bayer Leverkusen), who usually form a well -functioning trio together with Jamal Musiala. But Aleksandar Pavlović from FC Bayern also has Nagelsmann in the hindquarters when he has recovered from his Pfeiffer glandular fever. Commercial hunter Niclas Füllkrug will soon be healthy again and can intervene. The same applies to goalkeeper Marc-André Ter Stegen.
This proves: there is more in it, but the second suit is also located. Even if the team is not so strong in some positions, it can catch failures as a collective.
All of this should give German fans hope that dream of the World Cup title in the USA, Mexico and Canada. Because the team has taken another step since the strong home European Championship, has emancipated itself from the losses of experienced sizes (Kroos, Neuer, Müller, Gündoğan) and took more independent of individual players. This is an announcement to the competition.
There can be no question of perfection yet. The first half in Milan and the second half in Dortmund have proven this. Germany is vulnerable, makes mistakes and has to increase especially in terms of constancy. But Julian Nagelsmann is right when he says that it is better that the second leg against Italy ended 3: 3 than 4-0. The warning shot came right at the right time. Because the German team has now shown that a game is not over after 45 minutes. She also has to focus on her plan in the second round.
Because the team can trust this plan. National coach Nagelsmann and his team have proven that they find solutions. If Plan A does not work, it will be changed. The team is variable and now makes the supposedly small things better than two years ago. It is dangerous for standards and wide awake when the opponent sleeps. The greed to want to win every game is noticeable.
It will be necessary when it comes to the Nations League title in June. Against Portugal in the semi -finals and against Spain or France in a possible final, the German team can compete with the top of the world. Given the World Cup a year later, the perfect occasion to finally raise the title hope of German fans to a new level.
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